Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming one American life every 34 seconds. Understanding what your cardiologist is actually checking, and why, can help you feel more in control of your health.
With offices in Tampa and Lutz, Florida, Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM, and our team at Cardiovascular Institute of America, are here to keep your heart healthy. In this month’s blog, we’re taking a closer look at the importance of having routine cardiology check-ups.
Detecting heart disease in the early stages makes treating your condition easier. It can help you avoid a heart attack, stroke, and other serious complications.
Because heart disease is so common in the United States, heart screenings are critical to maximize well-being and life expectancy. Not all heart diseases or their risk factors have notable symptoms.
If you experience one or more of the following, check in with Dr. Velusamy right away:
The specific symptoms you experience are based on the type of heart or blood vessel condition you develop. You might not have any symptoms initially.
If you ever think you may be having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 right away.
Dr. Velusamy evaluates your pulse and blood pressure, listens to your breathing, and completes a physical exam. He reviews your medical history, lifestyle, and any symptoms you may have been experiencing.
Depending on what he finds, he may order blood tests as well as one or more of the following heart screenings:
Heart echocardiograms, MRIs, CT scans, and other imaging procedures create images of your heart and blood vessels to reveal information about its structure and function. They can show clots, blockages, narrowed vessels, blood flow problems, structural irregularities, and more.
An electrocardiogram, or EKG, measures your heart’s electrical activity. It can screen for heart rhythm problems and show if a heart attack has occurred or is developing.
A cardiac stress test, or exercise stress test, measures your heart’s activity under the increased demand of physical activity as you pedal an exercise bike or walk on a treadmill while wearing electrodes. If you can’t exercise, you may receive medication instead during the stress test.
Wearing a Holter monitor for a day or longer records your heart’s function during everyday activities. It can detect irregular heartbeats not found during a routine electrocardiogram.
Cardiac catheterization detects blockages in your arteries. Dr. Velusamy places a long and flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your wrist or groin and guides it to your heart. A special dye flowing through the catheter makes arteries show up clearly on X-ray images.
If you have a heart and/or blood vessel condition that requires — or would greatly benefit from — medical intervention, Dr. Velusamy reviews your treatment options.
He might recommend making diet and other lifestyle changes, taking medications or supplements, or undergoing a medical procedure. Dr. Velusamy tailors your treatment with the goal of providing lasting outcomes and a low risk of complication.
Schedule a cardiology check-up with Dr. Velusamy at Cardiovascular Institute of America at one of our three Tampa-area locations: we have an office in Lutz, and two more in Tampa, Florida. Contact us today by phone, or book an appointment online.
